Connectable segmented container

ABSTRACT

A separable segmented container includes a closure structure, such as a lid, and a plurality of interconnectable sections including a base section which defines an opening at an upper end and a top connecting region and at least one intermediate section. Each intermediate section defines first and second openings at upper and lower ends, respectively, and top and bottom connecting regions. The bottom connection region of the at least one intermediate section is configured to connectably mate with the top connecting region of another of the plurality of sections. The top connection region of the base and intermediate sections is configured to connectably mate with the closure structure. The base section, at least one intermediate section, and the closure structure together define a closed interior space whose volume is reducible by removing at least one of the at least one intermediate sections.

This application claims the priority of U.S. Application Ser. No. 60/759,506, filed Jan. 17, 2006, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety, by reference.

BACKGROUND

Embodiments of the invention are generally related to the field of containment vessels. More particularly, embodiments of the invention are directed to a resizable vessel that may hold an edible substance or condiment (referred to herein as “foodstuff”), or other substance that tends to be used or consumed over time.

The description to follow will consistently refer to a foodstuff as the substance being discussed in connection with containers in the prior art and according to embodiments of the invention. It is to be noted that foodstuffs are illustrative only and are referred to as a matter of convenience. Other substances may generally include any substance that tends to be consumed or used over a period or periods of time.

Certain foodstuffs are consumed directly from the container in which the foodstuff is purchased. In this regard, the container being referred to is a semi-rigid (e.g., squeezable) or rigid (e.g., jar) container rather than a flexible (e.g., potato chip or pretzel type bag) container. Illustrative, non-limiting examples may include a jar of salsa or a jar of mayonnaise. Often, it becomes messy or otherwise inconvenient to reach lesser and lesser remaining amounts of the foodstuff at the bottom of the container, especially if the container is large. The opening sizes of these containers are limited by practical considerations such as storage space and others appreciated in the art. Smaller containers of similar width and substantially reduced depth may be available; however they lack the volume to contain an acceptable amount of foodstuff for a consumer who wishes to consume it beyond a single use. These containers may also come with non-rigid and/or non-resealable tops or lids, making re-storage impractical and difficult.

In addition, typical containers of multi-portion foodstuffs are inefficient. Their use may require a separate vessel from which to consume the desired portion. Also, sub-portion amounts of the foodstuff remaining in the container may more readily be discarded. This could be considered wasteful and inefficient.

Typical foodstuff containers may also discourage informal consumption. Consider that certain products such as yogurt (e.g., GOGURT™), cereal, soup and others may be packaged for immediate consumption, often right out of their packaging. These packages typically contain single serving portions. However, salsa, for example, is an immediately consumable foodstuff that typically does not come in a single portion container. An appropriate container, however, may encourage and facilitate immediate consumption therefrom.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

In accordance with one aspect of the exemplary embodiment, a separable segmented container includes a closure structure and a plurality of sections, including a base section which defines an opening at an upper end and a top connecting region and at least one intermediate section, each intermediate section defining first and second openings at upper and lower ends, respectively, and top and bottom connecting regions. The bottom connection region of the at least one intermediate section is configured to connectably mate with the top connecting region of another of the plurality of sections. The top connection region of the base and intermediate sections are configured to connectably mate with the closure structure. The base section, at least one intermediate section, and the closure structure together define a closed interior space whose volume is reducible by removing at least one of the at least one intermediate sections.

In accordance with another aspect of the exemplary embodiment, a method of dispensing a foodstuff from a container is provided. The method includes dispensing a portion of the foodstuff through an upper opening of a container, disconnecting an intermediate section of the container from a base section of the container to reduce an interior volume of the container, the intermediate section defining the upper opening and a lower opening, and thereafter dispensing a second portion of the foodstuff from the base section of the container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross sectional view of a complete two segment container, shown filled with a substance, according to an illustrative embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates the container assembly shown in FIG. 1 after a portion of the foodstuff has been removed such that the container is less than half full with the substance;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the container as shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a schematic cross sectional view of a base section of the container, shown with the lid on; and

FIG. 5 is a schematic cross sectional plan view of a complete two segment container and lid, shown filled with a substance, according to another illustrative embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The exemplary embodiment provides a container suited to the storage of a consumable substance (foodstuff) or other liquid or semi-solid product that facilitates dispensing and/or immediate consumption of the substance from the instant container. Advantageously, the container may have an interior volume which is adjustable, as a function of the changing amount of substance in the container, to serve these needs and provides other benefits.

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a separable segmented container suitable for storing a substance, such as a foodstuff and dispensing the substance therefrom, e.g., by spooning out the substance or dipping a food item in the container to collect a portion of the substance thereon. The container may be created from a plurality of connectable/separable segments including a base section, at least one intermediate section, and a closure structure, e.g., a lid. Each intermediate section may include a bottom connection region and a top connection region. The bottom connection region is configured to connectably mate with at least one of a top connecting region of the base section and a top connecting region of another intermediate section. Each intermediate section may have a top connection region which is adapted to connectably mate with at least one of a container closure structure, e.g., a lid, and a bottom connecting region of another intermediate section.

In one aspect, the base section has a top connecting region and may be closed at a lower end by a base member. In one aspect, the closure structure has a bottom connecting region and may be closed at an upper end by a top member.

One or more of the intermediate sections can be removed when the volume provided by that intermediate section is unnecessary to contain the remaining substance in the container. According to an aspect of the invention, the remaining section(s) function(s) as both a storage vessel and, in the case of storing a consumable substance, the vessel from which the substance can be consumed.

According to one aspect, the container sections may be rigid and manufactured from glass, plastic, ceramic, a combination thereof, or other rigid container material. In an alternative aspect, a semi-rigid container may be manufactured from a suitable plastic material or other appropriate material known in the art.

In one aspect, the top and/or bottom connection regions of each of the container sections are threaded for removeably interconnecting the sections. According to this aspect, the bottom connection region may be a female thread, similar to the form typically found in a screw-on lid of a jar. The top connection region may be a corresponding male threaded region. Alternatively, the top and bottom connection regions may be corresponding friction fit surfaces, tongue-and-groove, shoulder-and-lip, or other complementary (connectable/separable) non-threaded regions of the sections.

FIG. 1 illustrates a container 10 according to an embodiment of the invention as it might appear upon purchase from a third party; that is, the container is complete in all of its parts, is assembled and contains a full amount of a viscous or semi-solid substance such as a foodstuff 12. Container 10 includes a base section 14, at least one intermediate section 16, and a lid 18, which cooperate to define a closed interior space 20 in which the foodstuff 20 resides. In the case of a viscous foodstuff, the foodstuff can flow between sections 14, 16, and any additional intermediate sections. The interior space 20 has a volume which can be reduced by removing at least one of the intermediate sections 16.

As shown In FIG. 2, the base section 14 includes a base member 30 and a side wall 32 extending upward therefrom. Side wall 32 defines an upper opening 34 and a top connection region 36 in the form of male screw threads encircling the exterior perimeter at the top of the section 14. For illustrative purposes, the base section 14 and any other sections (described below) will be discussed in terms of being a glass or plastic jar. The base section 14 is substantially filled with foodstuff 12.

The intermediate section 16, best shown in FIG. 2, includes a side wall 40 with openings 42, 44 at upper and lower ends of similar size and shape to opening 34. In the illustrated embodiment, where there is only a single intermediate section 16, the intermediate section is also a top section of the container assembly as shown. Top section 16 has a bottom connection region 46 in the form of female threads encircling the inner perimeter of a bottom portion of side wall 40. The female threads 46 are complementary to the male threaded top connecting region 36 of base section 14 so that top section 16 can be removeably connected with base section 14. Top section 16 also has a top connection region 48 having male threads that encircle the outer perimeter of the top of the section 16, similar to top connection region 36 of base section 16.

The lid 18 has a top member 50 and a depending skirt 52 which defines a female threaded connection region 54 complementary to the male threads 36, 48 of the container sections. The lid may be configured to create a vacuum-type seal which causes a pop when the lid is removed. In another embodiment a thin, tearable sheet of paper or metal (not shown) may be attached to the intermediate member beneath the lid. Upon assembly, the container 10 may appear as shown in FIG. 1.

Referring again to FIG. 1, a consumer may purchase container 10 filled with a foodstuff 12 (e.g., salsa, mayonnaise, onion or cheese dip, peanut butter, and/or jelly or other viscous foodstuff) from a supply outlet. In an illustrative aspect, container 10 contains 16 ounces of foodstuff 12. The container diameter is sufficient such that the purchaser may consume the foodstuff directly from the container. For instance, the container may serve as a serving vessel for the foodstuff. One could dip a chip directly into the salsa 12 in the container 10 without having to transfer the salsa to a separate bowl. At some point, however, as the foodstuff is removed, the quantity of foodstuff 12 reaches a level which is below the opening 34, as shown in FIG. 3. That is, it will be of an amount fully containable by base section 14, thus top section 16 is no longer necessary to physically contain the foodstuff 12. However, it may now be difficult to directly access the remaining foodstuff in the base section 14 of the container. Advantageously, top section 16 can be removed from base section 14 by unscrewing the top section 16 from the base section. Lid 18 can now be directly applied to base section 14 as shown in FIG. 4. This is particularly useful when it is desired to consume the foodstuff over two or more non-continuous time periods.

It is also possible to refill container 10 by reattaching top section 16 to bottom section 14 resulting in container 10 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Although a cylindrical glass or plastic jar structure is discussed above as an exemplary embodiment, a person skilled in the art will appreciate that the connection regions may not necessarily be threaded regions; rather they may comprise a tongue and groove, lip and shoulder, friction fit, or other known construction that would provide the separability and/or reconnection of intermediate container sections and the use of a lid for container closure. The container 10 according to other aspects can be made at least partly of a plastic or other rigid and/or semi-rigid material suitable for containing a foodstuff or other content. The container need not be cylindrical but rather could have any shape consistent with the mechanism for attaching and detaching container sections and the lid.

With reference to FIG. 5, the container may be provided with a sealing member 60 at least partially covering the interconnecting regions 36, 46, which is broken or otherwise unsealed prior to use. The sealing member may be a tamper evident seal which allows a purchaser to determine if the container has been opened in the interconnecting region prior to sale. A suitable sealing member 60 is a shrink wrap collar of plastic or the like which encircles the container and which may have a severable mid-region, such as by being perforated at 62. The collar may be split into two parts before or during the disconnection of the intermediate section 16 from base section 14. In one embodiment, the seal 60 may be provided with a tear strip (not shown) which encircles the container. Pulling on the tear strip serves to sever the collar 60 at the mid-region. In one embodiment, the collar 60 assists in maintaining interconnection between the base section 14 and intermediate section 16 while the lid 18 is being removed from the intermediate section. In another embodiment, the sealing member 60 may comprise a label which is adhesively attached to the intermediate and base sections 16, 14 and which is severable at a mid region to allow the sections to be disconnected, e.g., with a cutting tool or by provision of a perforation line.

It will be appreciated that various of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be desirably combined into many other different systems or applications. Also that various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims. 

1. A separable segmented container comprising: a closure structure; and a plurality of sections including: a base section which defines an opening at an upper end and a top connecting region; at least one intermediate section, each intermediate section defining first and second openings at upper and lower ends, respectively, and top and bottom connecting regions; the bottom connection region of the at least one intermediate section being configured to connectably mate with the top connecting region of another of the plurality of sections, the top connection region of the base and intermediate sections configured to connectably mate with the closure structure; the base section, at least one intermediate section and closure structure together defining a closed interior space whose volume is reducible by removing at least one of the at least one intermediate sections.
 2. The container of claim 1, wherein the closure structure comprises an internally threaded lid.
 3. The container of claim 1, wherein the base section includes a base member and a side wall extending therefrom, the sidewall defining the top connecting region of the base section.
 4. The container of claim 1, wherein the top connecting region of the base section comprises an externally threaded region.
 5. The container of claim 1, wherein the top connecting region of the base section is configured for selective interconnection with the each of the intermediate sections and the closure structure.
 6. The container of claim 1, wherein the fop connecting region of the intermediate section comprises an externally threaded region.
 7. The container of claim 1, wherein the bottom connecting region of the intermediate section comprises an internally threaded region.
 8. The container of claim 1, wherein the base has only one connecting region.
 9. The container of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sections are predominantly formed from a material selected from glass, plastic, and combinations thereof.
 10. The container of claim 1, further comprising a sealing member which contacts the base section and the at least one intermediate section.
 11. In combination, the container of claim 1 and a foodstuff disposed in the interior space.
 12. A method of dispensing a substance from the container of claim 1 comprising: removing the closure structure; dispensing the substance from the container until remaining substance is substantially contained within the base section; disconnecting at least one intermediate section to reduce the volume of the interior space; and thereafter dispensing the remainder of the substance from the base section.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the substance comprises a foodstuff.
 14. The method of claim 12, wherein the dispensing comprises scooping portions of the substance from the container.
 15. The method of claim 12, wherein the disconnecting comprises unthreading the intermediate section from the base section.
 16. The method of claim 12, further comprising, after disconnecting the at least one intermediate section, connectably mating the base section with the closure structure.
 17. A method of dispensing a foodstuff from a container comprising: dispensing a portion of the foodstuff through an upper opening of a container; disconnecting an intermediate section of the container from a base section of the container to reduce an interior volume of the container, the intermediate section defining the upper opening and a lower opening; and thereafter dispensing a second portion of the foodstuff from the base section of the container.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the dispensing comprises scooping portions of the foodstuff from the container.
 19. The method of claim 17, wherein the disconnecting comprises unthreading the intermediate section from the base section.
 20. The method of claim 17, further comprising, after disconnecting the at least one intermediate section, connectably mating the base section with a closure structure, the closure structure being configured for selective mating with the intermediate section and base section. 